Sparta ball was Frankly festive

The music of "The Chairman of
the Board" took center stage Friday evening (Jan. 18) as the Knights of
Sparta presented their 61st annual bal masque in the Great Hall of the Pontchartrain Center. The Knights entertained their
guests with a pageant entitled "My Way," dedicated to Frank Sinatra.

Junior dukes were Masters Matthew
James Hedrick IV, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hedrick III; John David Rodric Herbert
III, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Herbert Jr.; and Enrique Javier Trejo and
Francisco Noe Trejo III, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Francisco N. Trejo.

Heralds to his majesty were
Masters Enzo D'Alfonso Foster, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank D'A. Foster; Maximus
Charles Reese, son of Master Sgt. and Mrs. Louis M. Reese Jr.; and Sergio
Miguel Trejo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Francisco N. Trejo.

Special aide to his majesty was
Master Corey Max Mercer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joey D. Mercer. Special aide to
the captain was Master Justin Mitchell Cleveland, son of Mr. George M.
Cleveland and Ms. Victoria C. Cleveland.

The prince and princess of the court,
representing the cystic fibrosis community, were Master Matthew Logan Rowley,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Rowley; and Miss Kaley Alexis Fusilier, daughter
of Mr. Bradley Fusilier Jr. and Ms. Karen Theriot.

The queen wore a princess-style
gown of silver, re-embroidered Alençon lace, fashioned in a baroque pattern. Her
dress was adorned with Austrian rhinestones, crystal beading and seed pearls, and
featured a full court train. A Medici collar of French re-embroidered Alençon
lace with rhinestones, beading and seed pearls framed the queen's face. Her
mantle of silver silk lamé featured as its central motif appliquéd scrolls
surrounding the traditional crown and double "S" for Sparta, and was trimmed with aurora borealis
stones and crystals. A traditional hand-set Austrian rhinestone crown and
scepter completed her royal attire.

His majesty wore a traditional
Roman-style tunic and mantle similar in overall design, fabric and color to those
worn by his queen. A matching crown and scepter hand-set with Austrian
rhinestones completed his royal attire.

At the culmination of the tableau,
the captain of the krewe appeared in a burst of "flames" from a portrait of
"Ol' Blue Eyes." He wore a traditional tunic of silver brocade,
trimmed with Austrian rhinestones, seed pearls, and crystal and rhinestone
appliqués. His cape was of silver silk lamé trimmed in ermine. A classic laurel
wreath surrounding the jeweled crest of the Knights of Sparta formed the
mantle's central motif. The captain wore a classic Spartan helmet ornamented
with Austrian rhinestones and mirrors and topped with white, triple-set ostrich
plumes. As his baton, he carried a jeweled Spartan Laconian short sword.

Linking generations of Carnival
tradition, the junior captain made his entrance. He was Master Brandon James
Bogle, son of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Bogle Jr., and grandson of the captain and first
lady. He wore a traditional Roman-style tunic and cape that matched those of
the captain. He also carried a jewel-encrusted Spartan Laconian short sword.

General chairman of the ball was
Mr. John A. Tessitore. Honorary general chairmen were the Hon. Michael S. Yenni
and the Hon. Edmond J. Muniz, the current and former mayors of the city of Kenner.

Members of the honorary court committee
were Messrs. Jonathan L. Patin, Angel W. Caban, James B. Warner, Joey D. Mercer
and David M. Berggran; and the Hon. Gasper J. Schiro.

Music for the evening was provided
by Maestro B.J. Perez and the Orchestre de Carnival. Performing in the tableau
were the Edye Cook School of Dance from Marion, Ohio, under the direction of
Mrs. Edye Cook Skidmore; and the Jefferson Ballet Theater, under the direction
of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth J. Beck Jr. Guest narrator and vocalist for the evening
was Mr. John C. Skidmore.